That Red Mare Blog Hop- 25 Questions

Saw this over on Poor Woman Showing, & thought it looked like a lot more fun than analysing 5 different grower diets for pigs. So here we go!

1. Mares or Geldings? Why?
Mares. They're a pain in the ass at times, but just so much more fun. A good mare is worth her weight in gold, and when you actually get them working for you it's a bloody miracle  worth all the tears and tantrums it took to get there.

Cadence demonstrating the spectacularness of a mare who is willing to work for you

2. Green-broke or Fully Broke?
Green broke. It's fun to sit on nicely broke horses every now and again, but I love the process. That said, backing babies isn't my favourite thing in the whole world. I love getting to be the first person to sit on a horse- it's a very special feeling, but as for the rest of it, I really only find it fun if the horse is either an exceptionally quick learner, or really damn athletic. (and also a quick learner)

3. Would you own a "hotter" breed (ie. Arabian, Trakhener, etc).
The real question is would I own a "quieter" breed.... and I'm genuinely not sure I would. It's fun to train a dead quiet horse every now and again (like Sheldon, who was a TB), but I like my horses to have a few screws loose. Plus I'm lazy, and kicking is just not my idea of a good time.

4. What was your "dream horse" growing up?
Just about any thing on four legs that nickered. I thought (and still do) that horse owners were the luckiest people on the planet, and aspired to be worthy of joining that elite club. I would have taken a mule if offered! Probably still would.

Here we can be seen modelling a loose ring waterford, while above we're sporting a dreamcatcher-esque elevator combo thingy.

5. What kind of bit(s) do you use and why?
Just about everything under the sun. I like to change my bits up relatively frequently. Cadence's staple is a sprenger kk ultra, but we go xc in a waterford and hop around stadium in whatever I can dig up in the trailer. Often a baucher or plain old D-ring snaffle.

My friend and I share our own little tack room at the barn, and between the two of us we have enough bits to furnish a tack shop! The worst part is that it's probably only 50% of our respective collections. On the plus side, our BO puts just about anyone's tack hoarding to shame,so I feel no guilt.

6. Helmets or no helmets?
Helmets! Riding is dangerous enough- why add unnecessary risk?

7. Favorite horse color?
Probably a nice dapple grey. I'd never own one though, unless it came with its own groom.

8. Least favorite horse color?
Yucky dull brown. I'm really not too picky though, just figured I shouldn't leave a question blank!

Sheldon much prefers jumping, & has very little patience for that silly dressage stuff that makes his bum hurt

9. Dressage or Jumping?
Love 'em both. Prefer dressage to show jumping most of the time, but XC tops them all.

10. How many years have you been riding?
Maybe 8 or 9?

My "weapons"

11. Spurs/whip or no spurs/whip?

Depends on the horse, & depends on the situation. I'm a big believer in not going to war without your weapons though. Just because you're wearing/carrying it doesn't mean you have to use it!

12. Your first fall?
No idea. I fall off a lesson pony, probably because it spooked at another lesson pony's shadow.

XC pics from earlier today!

13. When was the last time you rode and what did you do?
This afternoon. Went for a xc lesson!

14. Most expensive piece of tack you own?
Jumping saddle. Costs 3x as much as just about anything else I own. That's probably not saying much though, as I think the next most expensive thing would probably be my dressage saddle which is maybe $600 CAD? (so that's like $50 USD for those of you who haven't been paying attention to the looney's abysmal performance of late)

15. How old were you when you started riding?
10,I think. But I had to stop for a while as we moved to Australia and then Nunavut, so I was 12 when I really got started.

Loving the leather

16. Leather or Nylon halters?
Leather. They look better, rub less, and are safer if your horse has to be turned out in one.

17. Leather or Synthetic saddles?
Leather, but I don't really have anyhting against synthetic saddles. They just don't tend to last as long.

18. What "grip" of reins do you like?
Anything. Prefer ones without the keeper thingies all the way up- those ones drive me crazy when your ideal rein length doesn't match up with the notch thingy.

The TB who thought he was a QH

19. English or Western?
English, cause I'll always be an eventer at heart. But I can ride a pleasure horse without looking 100% ridiculous, and I even competed in a team sorting competition once. Reining's fun too.

20. How many horses do you currently own/lease?
Just the one. Sold Sheldon to a lovely home in September, so it's just the Mare & I.

21. Do you board your horse? Self-care/full board? Home board?
Board. I currently live in the city, so no horses here. That said, I have had horses at my parent's place before.

The girls living at home & pretending not to hate each other

22. Have you ever had to put down a horse that you loved?
Thankfully, no.

23. How many saddlepads do you have?
Can't count. 10-15?

24. Slant-load trailer or straight haul?
Slant loads are lovely if you're only hauling one horse, but I own a straight load, & Miss Mare refuses to load onto slant loads.

Why wouldn't you ride?

25. Why do you ride?
Because few other things can bring me the kind of joy I feel when I'm working with a horse.